Is anyone here expert in SMT area? I would like to know how can we calculate/measure our SMT LINE EFFICIENCY. Our smt line configuration is DEK Printer-->pick & Place-->reflow oven. I am new in this industry, and i have to calculate SMT line efficiency and productivity in daily basis.

1. Theoretical speed of all machines (Printer, SMT, Reflow). This is a basic upper limit value of speed. Use it for calculate a maximal theoretical values as upper limit. For real values, read next.

2. High resolution calculation: a. Each SMT setup has many component shape types. Both values are based on component shape types and quantity of each of it. For example: speed of pick&place of BGA/QFN/etc is much much slower than chip such as 0402, 0603. This resolution is a best one b. Check a size of line and space between stations. This values can be a factor of the speed.

3. Simple calculation (between 1 & 2): a. Find an avg. time for pick & place component by using Stopper or from log information on machines (you can combine both of them). avg. time for pick & place component = sum(different n single PCB time / a same PCB SMT component quantity) / n b. Now, you can find a speed for each PCB based on avg. time for pick & place component. c. This is a fast and simple calculation but you can find yourself in a problem of time. Some works can take more time and other works may be set with over time. Be careful with this calculation.

By the way, those calculation can take a factor of errors generated in any part of process. So, you can take a possibility of error as percent of your calculated value. You can't see the future but can see the past.